15-year-old Somali giraffe euthanized at Oregon park

ROSEBURG -- Giraffes usually spend less than 10 minutes a day lying down, so when the staff at the Wildlife Safari in Southern Oregon saw Hodari the Somali giraffe lying down overnight, they knew something was wrong. Staff at the Wildlife Safari in Winston were unable to help the 15-year-old giraffe to his feet last week, even with heavy equipment.The Roseburg News-Review reported that other giraffes at the park were leaning down and nudging him to get up. Curator Dan Brands says the staff saw signs that Hodari wasn't trying to stand up and made the decision to euthanize him. The park will conduct a necropsy to determine what caused the giraffe's condition. Hodari came to the Wildlife Safari with a reputation for mischief, so much so that staff had to institute an extra "Hodari watch" to make sure he didn't get into trouble. Park staff had hoped to mate Hodari and a young female giraffe named Miya, who arrived in October. Brand said 15- to 20-years-old is considered old age for a Somali giraffe.

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